392: Lake Bell, Ted Leo, and Not Dumplings

Actor-director Lake Bell turns her lens on marriage — the good, the bad, and the ugly… Author Jenny Zhang suggests a few super “sour” bites of culture… Punk Rocker Ted Leo brings us tunes that’ll make you dance and think… The Posts demonstrate how NOT to tick off your college roommate… And Brendan tries Kubeh for the first time (the New York restaurant and the Kurdish treat). Plus, Sherlock’s creator cracks a real-life case, Vivien Leigh’s copy of the “Gone With the Wind” script is up for grabs, and a new track from Grizzly Bear sets the perfect vibe for your weekend.

Punk rock darling Ted Leo has been churning out anthemic, politically conscious music since the '80s, including six LP's with his acclaimed band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. This month, he releases his first solo album in 10 years called, "The Hanged Man." Listen as the musician picks songs by Michel Pagliaro, Steel Pulse, and more, for the soundtrack to your next politically aware party.

Lake Bell has one of the most interesting resumes in Hollywood. Most viewers know her as an actress -- she was lawyer Sally Heep on the series "Boston Legal" and she stars on the Netflix series "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later." Lake also writes, directs and stars in her own indie films. The latest being the comedy "I Do... Until I Don't." Rico talks with Lake about how she went from cynic to romantic while working on the film, how she incorporated experiences from her own relationship into the script, and more.

Recently, Brendan went to a new restaurant in New York City that serves "kubeh," a Kurdish treat that is essentially a ball of dough made of bulgur or rice and filled with lamb, beef or vegetables. Chef Melanie Shurka, the owner of the restaurant, explains how she meticulously studied the different variations of kubeh to develop her own twist on the dish.

Sponsor

Rico and Brendan aren't exactly back, but they're here to tell you about their new projects! Brendan has been producing The Paris Review and Rico has a new podcast called "Safe For Work." Rico and Liz Dolan ("Satellite Sisters") will help you make the big decisions, sort through the small stuff, and get more fulfillment from your work life. Here's a preview.

Alas, this is our last audio treat for you (for now). In the final installment of the "How to Behave" series, you'll hear some of the best of our favorite etiquette segments with celebrities. Master thespian Sir Ian McKellen offers a tip on how to deal with people who mispronounce your name (never correct the Queen), Cameron Diaz gives us impeccable advice for the long haul, and the one and only RuPaul gives some "godly" etiquette guidance. Be sure to keep up with Brendan and Rico at BrunchIsHell.com Cheers!